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OAS and UNICEUB of Brazil to Collaborate in Promoting Inclusion and Participation by Underprivileged Sectors of the Region

  August 4, 2011

The Organization of American States (OAS) and the Centro Universitario de Brasilia (UNICEUB) today signed a cooperation agreement that formalizes the relationship between the two institutions through which the UNICEUB supports, in an academic perspective, various activities related to integral development in the region and the protection and promotion of inclusion and participation by the most underprivileged sectors of society.

During the signing of the agreement, the OAS Acting Executive Secretary for Integral Development, Jorge Saggiante, mentioned that the formalization of their collaboration "will deepen, advance our issues, and incorporate other aspects into the joint work being done." Saggiante also expressed his hope that the agreement would represent "the beginning of a closer and more comprehensive cooperation between the two organizations" and stressed the importance of the issues covered by the agreement, including: workers, migrants, people with disabilities, elderly people, consumer protection, and environmental development.

The Dean of the UNICEUB, Getúlio Americo Lopes Moreira, appreciated the efforts the OAS has made in integrating academic institutions in its work, and added that "UNICEUB welcomes this agreement with positive willingness and with the certainty to continue working for the welfare of all in the Americas."

Under the agreement, signed at OAS headquarters in Washington, DC, the parties will develop cooperation, particularly in areas related to the fight against poverty and social exclusion, the effective protection of the rights of vulnerable groups, strengthening their capacity, with special emphasis on gender mainstreaming and the promotion of full respect for their human rights, through joint activities on education, training, counseling, and promotion.

In recent years, the OAS Department of Social Development and Employment and the UNICEUB have worked together on various issues, especially those related to access to justice, through training, and assistance to the community with a comprehensive and integrated approach. The UNICEB is a teaching institution that aims to generate, systematize and disseminate knowledge in order to educate thoughtful citizens and entrepreneurs, committed to sustainable socioeconomic development.

A gallery of photos of the event is available here.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-789/11